1. Forest Coordinator Training Overview
National Visitor Use Monitoring
Forest Service

2. Sampling
Most resource data collection is done by sampling – timber cruising, range allotment condition or botany surveys
Visitor use is also done by sampling – since 2000, each year, forests across the country are sampling visitors to the forest

3. NVUM NVUM can help answer questions such as:
How many visitors come to the NF?
What activities do they participate in?
Where do they come from?
How much money do they contribute to the local economy?
Are they satisfied with the facilities and services we provide?

4. Resources Region Coordinator email R1 Jeff Miller jeffmiller@fs.fed.us
Paul E. Cruz R3
Jeremy Golston R4
Lori Price R5
Matthew Boisseau R6
Bonnie Lippitt R8
John Campbell R9
Leon LaVigne
R10
Sharon Seim

5. Training Material in Adobe Connect
Agenda, guidebook, and PowerPoint presenations are loaded here

6. Other Resources National Visitor Use Monitoring Guidebook
External Webpage:
Adjacent forests who have done this recently
RecLink

7. Funding Funding comes from NFMP Example: $380 per survey day
$190 for counter only days
Example:
Fieldwork schedule shows 250 days, of which 20 are “counter only”
230 X $380 = $87,400
20 X $190 = $3,800
Total Allocation - $91,200

8. Allocation $15,000 Regional coordinator work
NFMP also provides
$15,000 Regional coordinator work
$5,000 Inventory design work prior to start of field work
$380 per day for 8 QA/QC (mentoring and secret shopping)

9. Time Commitment Time commitment for forest coordinators varies…
Before sample year: 10 to 20 days
During sample year: 60 to 80% of time
After sample year: 5 to 15 days
This is an estimate. Individual forests may differ substantially.

10. High Stakes Time commitment does not include the actual survey time.
Forest needs to understand this is a large commitment of time
For interviewers
For coordinators

11. Alternatives to Reduce Time Commitment
Forest coordinators time can be somewhat reduced if they decide to contract the NVUM surveys.
Contracting will be more costly upfront in both time and money.
Forest will still have responsibility for
Contract inspection.
Proxy reporting.

12. Commitment If using FS employees, interviewers must be: Well trained.
Personally committed to project.
Professionally committed to project.
Well practiced.

13. Accountability
This is not a project where you can just use anybody who is unfunded.
All interviews should be conducted by a well-trained and practiced interviewer.
We wouldn’t think about sending just anyone out to do wildlife or hydrology surveys without lots of training, right?

14. Discussion… 1

15. Next… Technical Terms and Proxy Codes Background Overview Resources
Costs
Technical Terms and Proxy Codes
Fieldwork & Backup Schedule
Preparing for Fieldwork
Managing the Fieldwork
Preventing Mistakes